GlaxoSmithKline invests Euro 500m to develop facility in France

Published: 29-Sep-2006

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced plans to invest Euro 500m over the next five years to develop the site of its Sterilyo subsidiary in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (Nord Pas-de-Calais region, France).


British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced plans to invest Euro 500m over the next five years to develop the site of its Sterilyo subsidiary in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (Nord Pas-de-Calais region, France).

Several new vaccines will be produced at the site, including the Cervarix vaccine used to prevent cancer of the uterus, and future vaccines against meningitis. This new production unit should lead to the creation of 300 jobs between now and 2009. By 2011, when the new facilities are operating at full capacity, almost 750 highly-qualified staff will be employed (Sterilyo currently has 120 employees).

The GSK investment represents one of the biggest investments in the pharmaceutical industry in France for over a decade, and concerns the domain of vaccines, which is rapidly expanding all over the world. France competed for this investment opportunity against Hungary, Ireland, Great Britain and Singapore.

GSK ceo Jean-Pierre Garnier said the global market for vaccines is experiencing strong growth due to product innovation and a growing appreciation of the benefits of prevention over treatment.

'Our new vaccines, which range from protection for infants through to the elderly, are expected to be strongly competitive and capture significant market share,' Garnier added.

'GSK's vaccines business is enjoying explosive growth,' said Jean Stephenne, president and general manager of GSK Biologicals.

'We have a very potent pipeline of new products covering paediatric vaccines for unmet medical needs as well as therapeutic vaccines in the area of cancer and allergy, thanks to innovative vaccine technologies that we believe put us ahead of the competition.'

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